Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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447. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for primary education in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9402/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (GIS), using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 76% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level have stable or decreasing projected enrolments for the period to 2025, whereas some 88% of the school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2028, with most expected to reach a peak in the next two or three years.

The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement ranges from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision.

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

The following projects are included for Capital funding on my Department’s School Building Programme:

01554B- Baile an Phusta NS Ardee. Project ON SITE to provide new 6 C/R extension to include retention and refurbishment of existing 6 C/R School.

18936K-St Itas Special School, Drogheda Project at STAGE 1( Preliminary Design) to provide 20 Classrooms Special School – Campus Project with St Marys Special School.

19214A-St Marys Special School, Drogheda, Project at STAGE 1 to provide 17 Classroom Special School – Campus Project with St Ita’s Special School (RN 18936K).

19215C-SN Ard Mhuire, Marymount. Project at STAGE 2b (Detailed Design) to provide a 24 Classroom school(co-ed fully vertical).

20171P-Ardee ETNS. Project at STAGE 3 (Tender Stage) to provide an 8 Classroom School with 2 SEN Base.

20259G-St Francis NS, Blackrock. PROJECT BRIEF STAGE. Project is to expand school to provide an 8 C/R extension plus 2 SEN Base to an existing 8 C/R school delivered in 2013.

Details of projects ongoing or recently completed are updated regularly on my Department’s website, www.education.ie.

The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments, existing school capacity and residential development activity. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with Louth County Council in respect of their Development Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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448. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for secondary education in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9403/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (GIS), using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 76% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level have stable or decreasing projected enrolments for the period to 2025, whereas some 88% of the school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2028, with most expected to reach a peak in the next two or three years.

The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement ranges from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision.

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

As the Deputy may be aware, since April 2018 the Government has announced 47 new schools to be established over a four year period (2019 - 2022) including one new post primary school (1,000 pupils) to serve the Laytown and Drogheda school planning areas (Regional Solution). This school was established in 2019 under the patronage of Educate Together.

I can confirm contracts for sale have now been signed, conditional on the landowner providing required infrastructure upgrades to serve the site. My Department has been advised that these infrastructure upgrades are programmed to be completed by the end of July 2022. The location of the permanent site (circa 11 acres in size) will incorporate the current temporary site at Mill Road, Drogheda at which the school is located.

The school building project will be delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. The project will proceed into early architectural planning which involves site surveys, school design stages and the preparation of statutory applications. A pre planning meeting will be arranged with the local authority in advance of preparing a Planning Application. Once statutory approvals have been secured, the project will proceed to tender and construction stages.

The following extension projects are also included for Capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA):

St Mary's Diocesan School, Sacred Heart Secondary School, De La Salle College, St Vincent's Secondary School, St Oliver's Community College and Ardee Community School.Details of projects ongoing or recently completed are updated regularly on my Department’s website, www.education.ie, or www.gov.ie.

The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments, existing school capacity and residential development activity. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with Louth County Council in respect of their Development Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county.